Machine for cleaning grain



(No Model.)

I B.ISBBB. MACHINE POR CLEANING GRAIN.

Patented Dec 5 Sheets-Sheet l.:

ms mman. muowvmna comuni. E

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

s. BISBEB. MACHINE POR CLEANING GRAIN.

Patented Deo. 12, 1893.

Fay. 5

/NVENTOH` A TTOHNE YS,

W/TNESSES.'

me NAnoNAL LrrNoaRAPHmn cMPAnY.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

S. BISBEE.

IIAGIIINB PoR CLEANINGr GRAIN.

No. 510,762@ Patented 1390.112, 1893-.

fue NATIQNAL umoaRAPmNn coMPANY. wAsNlNnroN. n. r:.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

s. BISBEE.. MACHINE FOR CLEANING GRAIN. v No. 510,768. Patented 1360.12,1893. R v w w/r/vfssfs; //vvE/vron 1 AMM, l@ l Y MDL@ l WH' 19 e G,

ATTORNEYS.

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(No Model.)v 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

' S. BIS-BEE.

` MACHINE POR CLEANING GRAIN. No. 510,768.

w Patented Dec. 12, 1893r A TTOHNEYS.

THE NATIONAL LITNUGIPHING COMPNY. wlumaron. n. o.

n. Nrrno STATES ATENT OFFICE.

MACHINE FOR CLEANING GRAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 510,768, dated December12, 1893.

. Application filed August 30, 1892. Serial No. 444,563. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SYLvEs'rER BIsBEE, of Madelia, in the county ofWatonwan and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and ImprovedMachine for Cleaning Grain, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in grain cleaners, and especiallyto machines adapted for the treatment of flax grain, and has for itsobject to provide a machine which will be not only effective but alsosimple, durable and economical in its construction.

The invention consists iu the novel construction and combination oftheseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out inthe claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification,

in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate correspondingparts in all the views. Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectiothrough the machine, taken practically on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6. Fig. 2isa detail view showing the locking mechanism kfor the screens. Fig. 3is an end view of the machine. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section,taken practically on the line 4 4: of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail view,illustrating a portion of the cleaning mechanism in position to enterthe outlet of the hopper. Fig. 6 is a plan View of the machine. takenpractically on the line 7-7 ot' Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectionthrough the screens, taken practically on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1. Fig. 9is a detail perspective View of one of the cleaning brushes. Fig. l0 isa bottom plan View of a series of brushes and the frame in which theyare mounted. Fig. 11 is a side elevation ot` the blower. Fig. 12 is aplan View of the carriage or frame in which the screens are mounted.Fig. 13 is a section taken longitudinally through one set of thescreens, this figure being somewhat diagrammatic, as the brushes arerepresented as moving in opposite directions, while they really all movein the same direction, they being so shown in order that the action ofboth their rearward and forward movements upon the straw may be fullyillustrated. Fig.

llt is a transverse section through one set of Fig. 7 is a horizontalsection the screens, the section being taken practically on the line14,-14 of Fig. 1. Fig. 15 is a detail view of the connecting ring towhich the cables Vadapted to actuate the brushes are attached; and Fig.16 is a sectional view of the ring illustrating the manner in which itis applied to the endless chain carrie-r.

The main frame Aof the machine is generally made rectangular, andconsists of corner posts 10, connected at top and bottom by side beams11 and end beams 12. The lower side beams may be supported between theirends by short posts or legs 13, and` are usually connected at said legsby a cross bar 14, while at the top of the frame,near each end, twocross bars connect the side beams, the front bars being designated as 15and 16 and the rear beams or bars as 17 and 18. Back. of the front crossbar l6,the main or delivery hopper B, is located, the said hopper beingattached to the frame in any approved manner. hopper is secured firmlyto the cross bar 16, as shown inFig. 1. The bottom board 19 of the mainhopper is inclined, its inclination being from its rear end downward indirection of the front. The bottom board extends some distance forwardlybeyond the front board 2O of the hopper, and between the lower end ofthe front board and the bottom a space 21, is provided, extending fromside to side. As an additional support for the hopper a horizontalpartition 22, is made integral with or attached to the front board 20,said partition at its forward end being fastened to the front upperportion of the main frame, producing thereby a compartment 23 in frontof the hopper, and a lower forward extension of the latter designated asB', of which the horizontal partition constitutes the top.

The hopper extension is closed at each end, but one end portion 24, asshown in' Figs..3 and L1, extends horizontally beyond the sides of themain frame A. The end projection of `the hopper is somewhat ellipticalin plan view, as shown in Fig. 6, and its outer end surface is inclinedfrom the top downward and inward to a point within the frame A. Theprojecting end portion 24of the hopper has its centerline alsosubstantially in the Preferably, however, the front of the.

too

same plane as the lower end of the bottomvof the hopper.

v prevent the clogging of the same.

The lower end or delivery section of the hopper is practically closed bya door 25, hinged at its upper end to the horizontal partition 22, andthe door slants down and rear ward, as shown in Fig. l, and may be madeto meet the lower edge of the bottom of the hopper, and thus completelyprevent exit of material therefrom; but when the machine is in operationan exit opening 25, is left be tween the door and bottom of the hopperfor the downward and outward passage of the grain. This opening maybeincreased or decreased by manipulating the door, which is accomplishedby securing to the door a handle 27, and carrying the handle outwardbeyond the front end of the main frame between the members of a loopspring 28, capable of clamping the handle, or to an engagement with anyform of latch device by means of which the handle may be secured in theposition in which it may be placed.

The projecting end portion of the hopper is open at the top, and isadapted to receive Straw or other foreign matter removed from the grainbefore it leaves the hopper, and taken from the exit opening of thehopper to The straw is removed from the hopper exit opening and placedin the hopper projection or more properly pocket 24, and the grain inthe hopperis kept agitated while the machine is in operation by means ofa cleaning or separating fork 29. Shown best in Figs. 4 and 5. The tineor tines of the :fork are curved in direction of the pocket24, and itsshank 29 above the tines is provided with a longitudinal slot 30. Theupper end of the fork shank is pivotally connected with one end of alink 31, the opposite end of the link being pivoted upon a post 32, orlike device, projecting from the main frame. The fork receives motionfrom a short shaft 33, journaled longitudinally in proper bearings 34,located at the front end of the frame. This shaft extends beyond thefront of the frame, and into thecompartment 23 in front of the hopper.

The inner end of the shaft 33, has secured to it a crank arm 35,provided with a pin 36, adapted to enter and to travel in the slot 30 ofthe fork shank; and the outer end of the shaft carriesa large gear wheel37. The shaft 33, is revolved from a transverse drive shaft 38,journaled upon the upper forward end portion of the main frame, saiddrive shaft being provided with a driving pulley 39, at its outer endand a beveled gear 40, at its inner end. The gear 40, meshes with a likegear 4l upon an upper longitudinal driven shaft 42, journaled inbearings located upon the front end of the main frame, and the forwardintermediate cross bar l5. The drive shaft carries at its outer end apinion 43, which meshes with the gear 37 of the crank shaft 33, and atits inner end the upper driven shaft 42, carries a beveled gear 44, asshown in Figs. l and (-5.

In the rear of the compartment 23, in front of the hopper, a series ofblocks 45, is hinged to the bottom thereof, as shown best in Figs. l and5. dropped outwardly in direction of the pocket 24 of the hopper, andare likewise capable of assuming a vertical position. The blocks arelocated one behind the other, close to the edge of a slot 46, producedtransversely in the bottom of the compartment 23, and directly over andparallel with the exit opening of the main hopper, and through this slot46 the shank of the fork 29, extends downward a sufficient distance toadmit of the fork mov- 8o blocks, which rod projects beyond one side of9o the machine, terminating in a suitable han, dle. Any form of latchdevice may be used in connection with the rod. The track is adapted toregulate the downward throw of the fork 29, as sometimes it is desirablethat the fork should extend well down in the hopper exit and at othertimes just approach the exit, the position of the fork being regulatedin accordance with the character of the grain treated and the amount offoreign matter conroo tained in the grain. The regulation of the forksmovement is accomplished by locating upon the fork above its shank 30 awheel or roller 49, which when the fork is on and during its downwardstroke, travels upon the track.

The operation of the fork is shown best in Figs. 4 and 5, in which itwill be observed that when the crank arm 35, rises, it will carry thefork upward with it when the pin of the 11o crank arm reaches the upperend of the slot 30. The fork is then carried bythe crank arm and crankshaft in direction, for example, of the left-hand side of the machine,and

as the crank arm lowers the fork drops until [15 its wheel or roller49,strikes the track 47, and as the slot 30 in the shank of the fork is ofconsiderable length, while the crank arm is turned in direction of therighthand side of the machine the shank of the fork is carried izotransversely with the fork in the exit opening of the hopper,practically the full length of the exit opening, at which time the crankarm will act to again elevate the fork and its shank. Thus the grain isconstantly agitated 1 z5 over the exitopening,and the opening is keptfree from straw and other foreign matter as the hookshaped form of thefork will carry to the pocket 24 any straw in the path of thc fork anddeposit it therein, and the curved 13o portion 47m at the center of thetrack 47, serves to give the fork at about the middle portion of itslower horizontal stroke an undulating movement, stirring the grain andcorn- The blocks are capable of being 7o The track has no sup- 85pelling it to pass down through the exit opening, and the movement alsotends to throw the straw upward in direction of the pocket 24, fromwhence it may be removed by the operator as the pocket fills. When theblocks 45 are lowered, the track 47 is lowered also, and the fork willbe made to enter and pass through the exit opening of the hopper, andwhen the blocks are elevated the fork will simply enter, or only closelyapproach the exit opening.

The screens D, are preferably arranged in groups of two, and a boxbottom D accompanies each group of screens, one group b eingshown inFig. 14, and such a group is designated as D2. The frames of all thescreens, and likewise the bottoms are alike in construction, beingpractically rectangular in general contour, and each consisting of twoopposing side boards 50, and two opposing end boards 5l. The frames maybe of anydesired depth, and the frames adapted for use as screens havepractically their entire bottom portion covered by wire netting ofproper mesh, or other screening material, said material being attachedto the side and end boards of the frame in any manner known to thetrade. The frames are braced longitudinally by battens 52, extendingfrom end to end, one at each side ot the center, and said battens arelocated above the screening materiai, while a series of transversebattens 53, is located beneath the screening material, and connect theside boards of the frame. The side edges of the transverse battens arebeveled to admit of the passage of cleaning devices to be hereinafterdescribed,over the bottom faces of the screens. The only practicaldifference existing between the screens D and the box bottom D of agroup of screens, is that the bottom 54 of the box frame is solid orunbroken.

In the arrangement of a group of screens one screen frame is placed uponanother, they tittin'g together snugly, and the two screen frames areplaced upon a box frame; the mesh of the lower screen is liner than thatof the screen above it, and at or near one end in one side of the upperscreen of a group an exit opening 55, is located, accompanied by a chute56, while the exit opening 57 of the lower screen is in one end andextends from side to side. The box bottom of each group of screens islikewise provided with an exit opening 58, having an accompanying chute59, located however, near the same end as the opening in the top screen,but at an opposite side, as is shown in both Figs. 13 and 14. As theexit opening in the upper screen and in the box bottom ot` each group ofscreens is in the sides, the longitudinal battens in these frames areusually provided with recesses 60, shown in Fig. 14, to permit the grainto pass freely to the exits.

The above description is that of the lowest group of screens when manygroups are employed in the machine. When a machine 1s adapted to carrythree groups of screens, for

exampleand as illustrated, at the head of all the screens and the boxbottom of the rst group, two spaced transverse partitions 6l and 62, arelocated, and the bottom of the box frame and likewise the screeningmaterial of the screen frames extend to the innermost partition only, asshown in Fig. l; thus at the head portion of the first group of screenstwo independent chutes 63 and 64, are formed. The head portions of thesecond or intermediate group of screens are provided with but onetransverse partition 65, forming a single chute 66, and when the groupsof screens are placed one over the other the partition 61 of the uppergroup will be immediately over the partition in the center group.

A hopper 67, is placed upon the upper group of screens at its head, thehopper being of sufficient width to extend beyond the inner partition62, as shown in Fig. 1; and at the upper edges ot' the partitions 61 and62 division or compartment boards are pivoted, said one in communicationwith each group of screens, and communication with either of the groupsmay be shut ott by inclining the division boards, as shown in dottedlines,v

Fig. 1.

When the groups of screens have been properly placed one upon the other,the coarse or undesirable grain and coarse foreign matter will pass overthe upper screen of each group out at the side of the machine; the tineparticles of grain and dust delivered by the second screen to the boxbottom of a group will .be delivered at the opposite side of theniachine, while the assorted grain caught and retained by the secondscreen of a group will pass out at the back of the machine. In practicethe hopper for the screens is so located that it will be beneath theexit opening of the mainl hopper.

I will now describe the manner of hanging the screens and theiractuating mechanism: The groups of screens are supported by a swingingframe E. Shown in detail in Fig. 12. This frame consists primarily oftwo side beams 70, end beams 7l, and hangers 72, pivotally attached, oneat each corner of the frame. The hangers at th'e head portion of ytheframe are shorter than those at the foot or rear end, and the upper endof the hangers have a swinging connection with the side,y

beams of the main frame A, as is best shown in Fig. 1. By reason of thedifference in the length of the hangers the swinging frame has a gradualdownward and rearward slope, and the same slope is given to the screenswhen upon the frame. swinging frame between its hangers, and are heldfirmly together upon the frame by arms 73, projected upward from thesides of the frame at its ends. These arms are made to pass throughguide channels 74, produced upon the upper faces of the screens, as

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The screens rest upon the shown in Fig. 2, and carry at their upper endslocking cams 75, provided with suitable handles. These cams extend overthe upper side edge of the uppermost screen frame, and when properlymanipulated exert a firm and positive downward tension upon all of thescreens, binding them securely to the swinging frame. The swinging frameE, is actuated, and the screens with it, in an even and uniform manner,from a drive shaft 78, journaled in bearings located upon the lowerportion of the main frame near its center. This shaft is usuallyprovided with a pulley at each end, designated as 79 and S0, power beingapplied to one of them. The shaft is below the swinging frame; and neareach side of said frame an eccentric 81, is secured upon the shaft,andthrough themedium of rods 82, the eccentrics are connected with theforward end of the swinging frame. It will be readily observed that themotion imparted to the swinging frame is a laterally-reciprocating,rocking motion,steady and regular in both directions of movement, andthat there is nolintermittent orjerky movement imparted to the swingingframe and its screens, which latter motion is common to machines of thisclass.

The cleaning devices are in the shape of brushes F, shown in detail inFigs. 9 and 10, and in operative position in Figs. 8 and 13. Each of thebrushes preferably consists of a back block 83 and bristles 84, or theirequivalents, located upon one face of the block. An outwardly-extendinghook 85, is secured to each block at the end portion of each of itssides, as shown in Fig. 9, the hooks extending virtually below the backsof the brushes. The brushes are held in a frame G, composed of side bars86, and a series of cross bars 87, connecting the side pieces. Such aframe is provided in connection with each screen, and as the framesextend transversely across the screens and move longitudinally thereof,the length of the brush-carryin g frames is slightly less than the widthof the screen frames.

In the drawings three brushes are illustrated as carried by each frame,their attachment being best shown in Fig. 10. The connection between thebrushes and the trame is of a spring character,and is effected in thefollowing manner: Two springs H, are utilized for each brush, each ofthese springs comprising a yoke-like body S8, of spring wire or likematerial, adapted to maintain essentially a horizontal position, and thebody terminates at the end of its members in coils 89, the formation ofthe springs being completed by carrying the wire from which they aremade up- Ward from each coil to form shanks 90, standing essentially ata right angle to the body, as is clearly shown in Fig. 9. The shanks ofthe springs are passed upward through the side bars of the frame G,being secured to said bars at their upper surfaces in any approvedmanner, usually by bending the upper ends of the shanks downward; thebow portions of the body sections of the springs are then passed, onebody section over each set of end hooks on the brushes, as shown inFigs. 9 and l0, which will bring the coils ot' the springs connectingeach brush with its frame opposite each other back of the hooks andbelow the back of the brush to which it belongs. It will be understoodfrom the above description that each brush is virtually springcontrolledin a vertical direction, and that by reason of this control thebristlesof the brushes will be constantly forced into engagement with the partsof the screens to cleaned.

The longitudinal brace bars 52, located over the screening material ofthe screen frames, are utilized as tracks upon which the brushcarryingframes are adapted to slide. The brushes are distributed so that thescreening material of each group of screens will be acted upon, and thisis accomplished, as shown in Fig. 8, by placing one brush-carrying framein the second screen frame of each group, the brushes carried by thisframe engaging closely and constantly with the under side of thescreening surface of the upper screen, and placing a second brushcarrying frame in the tight bottom frame, the brushes ofV which lattercarrying frame engage with the under surface of the second screen of agroup. All the brushes are to move simultaneously in the same direction,for example, from the head to the foot of the screens and then back, themovement being constant while the machine is in operation. The action ofthe brushes on the screen is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 13,inwhichit will be observed that the brushes in passing in one directiongive an inclination to the straw orlike material, which tends togravitate straight through the meshes, and at the same time the brushesforce the straw outward; but upon the return of the brushes, they thentraveling in an opposite direction, the straw will be forced entirelythrough the meshes and will fall upon the screens, and be carried offwith the grain, &c. The upper brush in Fig. 13, illustrates the firstmove ment, and the lower brush the second movement. In is evident thatwhen the brushes are manipulated in this manner the meshes of the screenwill be constantly kept clear for the passage of the material intendedto be passed through it.

The following mechanism is preferably employed toautomaticallyreciprocate the brushcarrying frames: A transverse shaft91, is journaled in suitable bearings located preferably upon the inner,upper and forward cross bar 16 of the main frame A, and a secondparallel shaft 92, is journaled in a similar manner upon thecorresponding rear cross bar 17. Between the ends of both shafts,however, and the sides of the main frame, quite a `space intervenes, asshown in the plan View Fig. 6. Both shafts carry at each extremity asprocket wheel, all of said wheels being designated as 93; and at eachside ot' the machine an endless belt, preferably of chain character, islocated, carried by said sprocket wheels,and

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the belts are designated in the drawings as94 v inafter described thebelts being given motion by the shaft 91, which carries a beveled gear96, meshing with the corresponding gear 44 upon the driven longitudinalshaft 42, heretofore described in connection with the hoppercleaning anddistributing fork. A coupling ring or disk 97, shown in Figs. 15 and 16,is attached to the outer face of a link in each chain belt. These disksare ordinarily provided with a central hub 98, which receives a stud 99,projected from the link, said stud having its outer end threaded for thereception of a lock nut 100. See Fig. 16. The disk is also provided withan outwardly-extending marginal flange 101, in which a series ofapertures 102, is produced. At each corner of each brush carrying framea rope or its equivalent is attached, as shown in Fig. 10, and the ropesat one side are designated as a, and a',

While the corresponding ropes at the opposite side are designated as band b. The ropes at and b', are carried rearward through the screen andbox frames in which they are lo- 'cated, under and in engagement withguide rollers 103, secured to partitions 104, forming portions of theframes, as illustrated in Fig. 13, thence out at therear of the screenframes, upward over guide pulleys 105, located exteriorly upon the rearof the frames at each side. The rear guide pulleys 105, areplaced one inadvance of the other, so that the ropes in passing from the pulleys willnot entangle with each other. All of the ropes a', and likewise all ofthe ropes b', are carried, each rope independently, upward over rollersordrums 106,1ocated upon the rear upper transverse bar 18 of the mainframe; and from each drum each series of ropes d and b',- is takentoward the front of the machine, and the ropes are separately fastenedto the flanges of the coupling disks 97 by being passed through theapertures 102 in the disks, and knotted or otherwise treated. By thismeans each brush frame at each end of its rear side is connected with acoupling disk at the corresponding side of the machine, and in securingthe ropes to the disks they are passed through successive apertures. Asshownin Fig. 1 the ropesofeach series are preferably connected rearwardof the coupling disks, the connection being designated as 107 on thedrawings. In like manner the ropes ct and b, attached to the brushcarrying frames are led outward through the front ofthe screen and boxframes. They are then passed over pulleys 108, located upon the forwardends of the frames at the sides thereof, the pulleys being graduatedfrom the bottom upward with respect to the distance they shall extendfrom the forward ends of the frames. From the pulleys 108 the ropes aand b, are carried upward in separate groups over drums 109, journaledupon the forward cross bar 15 of the main frame of the machine, andafter leaving these drums the ropes a and b, are secured to the couplingdisks in like manner-as has been described with reference to the reargroup of ropes.

Itis evident from the foregoing description, that as the chain belts arerevolved the coupling disks will be carried bythe chain belts in thesame direction that they travel, and consequently the brush-carryingframes will be made to move longitudinally in the screen and box frames,alternately in direction of front and rear, and that the screens withwhich the brushes engage will be kept constantly clean, and being sokept the screens may be moved regularly and evenly, since there is nonecessity of imparting a quick or jerky movement to the screens, whichdamages them, since the brushes prevent the meshes from becomingclogged.

Where the ropes are connected with the brush carrying frames and arepassed through the leads from the screen chute, said ropes are inclosedby tubes 1082*, to prevent the grain being stopped in its downwardpassage to the screens, as shown in Fig. 1; and at the delivery end ofthe inner screen of each group, at the sides of said end, a guard 1092,is located, to prevent the grain from drifting toward the sides of themachine and to protect the grain from the rear set of pulleys; largerguards 110, are also placed at the side portions ofthe rear ends of thescreens to protect both pulleys and ropes, as shown in vdetail in Fig.13.

Beneath the lower end of the screens a IOO blower M, is located, thebody portion 111 of which is provided with a sliding door 112 and alocking device 113 to regulate the amount of air entering the blower.The blower is of a width corresponding essentially to the width of thescreens, and its body portion is provided with an upwardly or rearwardlyextending exit spout 114, provided with an opening 115 in the topbetween its outer and inner ends, and a registering opening 116 in itsbottom surface, the latter opening having a forward inclination. Thegood grain falling from the inner screen of the groups passes into theblower spout through-its upper opening, and while in the spout all chaffand foreign matter are blown from the grain, and the latter in a cleancondition passesout from the spout through its lower opening to anyreceptacle placed to receive it.

In the general operation of the machine the grain is fed. into the mainhopper B,. from whence it passes down to the lower section B of thathopper. The fork 29, is constantly reciprocated laterally, and given avertical movement aswell, through the medium of the driving mechanismheretofore referred to, and the fork in so moving enters and passessubstantially the length of the exit opening in the hopper,`clearing theopening and. removing any straw, or foreign matter capable of cloggingit, to the pocket 24, located at one side of the exit opening, fromwhich pocket't'he material deposited therein may be readily removed. Thewidth of the exit opening is regulated by the manipulation of the door25, forming the end wall ot' the hopper extension, and the fork may bemade to travel j ust within theexit opening of the hopper, just aboveit, or it maybe made to extend some distance through it, by adjustingthe track 47, which serves as a guide device for the vertical movementof the fork, The screens through the medium of their driving mechanismheretofore set forth in detail, are given a constant forward andrearward regular and even m0- tion, and the grain falling from theprincipal hopperB, will enter the screen hopper 67, and will find itsway through any of theopen leads therein into the group of screens towhich said leads carry.

The screens by their movement operateas follows: The upper screens ofthe groups retain upon them the large particles of foreign matter,coarse straw, dsc., that have escaped from the main hopper, and thisrefuse material is delivered from the machine at one of its sides. Thegood grain falls through the meshes of the upper screens to the lowerscreens of each of the groups, and it finds its way out through the rearend of the machine, drops into the blower H, and is there cleared fromforeign matter adhering to the grain, the grain leaving the blower inperfect commercial condition. The tine particles of refuse matter,broken grain, dsc., pass through the meshes of the second screens of thegroups, into the box bottoms of the groups, and such matter is deliveredfrom the machine at the side opposite that from which the material fromthe upper screens is discharged. The brushes working against the screensare kept 1n constant motion while the screens have movement, and theyserve to thoroughly clean the meshes of the screens and promote theefficiency of them, rendering them capable of delivering material muchmore quickly and in better condition than where such devices are notemployed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In a machine for cleaning grain, the combination,with a stationary hopper having an exit opening in its lower portion, ofa fork adapted to move in the said hopper and to eX- tend down throughthe exit opening thereof, a driving mechanism for imparting a lift andlaterally reciprocating motion to the fork, and a guide device forlimiting the downward throw of the fork, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

2. In a machine for cleaning grain, thecombination, with a stationaryhopper having an exit opening in its lowerportion and a pocket at oneend of the opening, of a fork adapted to extend within the opening, acrank shaft connected with the fork, and a guide device limiting thedownward throw of the fork, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

3. In amachine for cleaning g "ain, the combination, with a stationaryhopper having an exit opening in its lower portion, and an adjustablesection constituting a wall of said opening, of a fork adapted to extendwithin the opening,:provided with a shank pivoted at its upper end andhaving a slot inits body, a crank shaft connected with the shank at itsslotted portion and having play therein, and an adjustable guide devicelimiting the downward movement of the fork, substantially as shown anddescribed.

4t. In a device for cleaning grain, the combination, with a hopperhavingan exit opening in the bottom portion thereof, and a fork capable ofextending through the opening, the shank of which is provided with aslotand is pivoted at its upper end, of a crank shaft the crank of which hasplay in the slot of the fork shank, a guide roller projected from thefork shank, a track with which the roller engages, and a device,substantially as shown and described, for raising and lowering thetrack, as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a machine for cleaning grain, the combination, with a hopperhaving an opening in its lower portion, a fork capable of movement inthe opening, the shank of which is provided with an elongated openingand the upper end pivoted, and a crank shaft the crank arm of which hassliding connection with the shank of' the fork through the medium of itsopening, of a track, hinged supports upon which the track rests, a drawoar connected with the supports, whereby the track may be raised andlowered, and a guide roller carried bythe shank of the fork and adaptedfor engagement with and to travel upon the track upon the downwardmovement of the fork, as and for the purposespecifed.

6. In a machine for cleaning grain, the com bination, with a hopperhaving an extension at its lower end, an exit opening in the bottom ofthe extension and a door regulating the width of the opening, and a forkadapted to travel in the exit opening of the hopper, the shank of whichis pivoted at its upper end, of a pocket formedin one end of theextension of the hopper near one end of the exit opening, a crank shaftthe crank of which is connected with the shank of the fork and haslimited movement in said shank, a track, supports for the track hingedat their lower ends to an adjacent support, a draw bar connected withthe supports of the track, and a guide roller carried by the shank ofthe fork and adapted at times in the movement of the fork to travel uponthe track, as and for the pur pose specified.

7. In a machine for cleaning grain,the combination, with a stationarymain frame, and a main hopper located thereon, of a reciproeating frameconnected with the main frame, screens arranged in the saidreciprocating frame, and a hopper located on the reciprocating frame andprovided with partitions for alternately delivering the grain issuingfrom IIC) the said main hopper, to each of the said screens,substantially as specified.

8. In a machine for cleaning grain, the combination, with a stationarymain frame, of a reciprocating frame connected therewith,- screensarranged in the said reciprocating frame, brushes located in the frameand having their bristles in contact with the screens, traveling beltsand means for driving the same, coupling disks secured to the belts, andropes each connected at one end with one of the said brushes and at theother end with one .of the coupling disks, substantially as specified.

9. In a machine for cleaning grain, the combination, with a stationaryframe, of a reciprocating frame connected therewith, and

hangers having a pivotal connection with the stationary fra-me and withthe reciprocating frame at opposite ends thereof, the hangers at one endof the frame being shorter than those at the other end thereofsubstantially as and for the purpose specified.

10. In a machine for cleaning grain, the combination,with reciprocatingscreens, of frames held to travel beneath the screens, brushes carriedby the frames, constantly engaging with the. screens, a springconnection between the brushes and the frames, endless chain belts,driving mechanism for the belts, andl cables connected with oppositeends of the frames and connected with a link of each chain belt,substantiallyas and for the purpose speciied.

11. In a machine for cleaning grain, the combination, with screens heldto reciprocate, frames having sliding movement beneath the meshes of thescreens, brushes carried by the frames, in constantl engagement with themeshes of the screens, and a spring connection between the brushes andthe frames, of`

vided with sockets at their extremities, and

springs comprising a yoke section, a coil section and shank sections,the yoke sections engaging with the sockets of the brushes, the coilsections facing inward beneath the backs of the brushes, and the shanksections being adapted for engagement with the frame, substantially asshown and described, whereby the brushes are held in connection with theframe by a spring cushion, as set forth.

SYLVESTER BISBEE.

Witnesses:

A. H. BENTEN, JOHN BIsBEE.

